​Years ago, before we had our own children, I taught third grade in a wonderful all-girls school. On the first day with my students, we would explore the concepts of community and leadership by discussing and acting out a piece called Lessons From The Geeseby Dr. Robert McNeish. It talks about how geese are able to fly much farther in a "V" formation because as each goose flaps its wings, it creates an "uplift" for the bird behind it, making it easier for them to fly. Geese also take turns leading the formation. When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates to the back of the formation to rest and another goose takes its place at the point position. The main message was that when we support each other and share leadership, we accomplish more. It was a good one they carried through until the end of the year, and hopefully beyond.

The interesting (and disheartening) thing, is that in my classroom and online I often encountered the following question:

"Do the females lead too?"

​Do the females lead too...

Well, now you know why this leadership t-shirt features geese in formation.

YES, the females lead!​In fact, it's usually the females that lead first in migration!

Guess what? Women and girls lead. In fact, one reason we're often great at it is because, like geese, we're more likely to share leadership roles and more apt to support each other in an effort to accomplish more. We know this. Now let's say it outloud. Ladies, if you lead, celebrate it and make sure everyone else knows it too. If more women and girls fly to the front and encourage others to do the same, someday no one will question whether we can lead in the first place. Peace via geese, K

This is me a few years ago, at 42. If you look closely you'll see that my hair was already streaked with silver and grey. A few years before this photo, I had started dying it brown until one morning one of our daughters asked me why. Why...

I found myself hesitating with my answer because if I was honest, was it really one I wanted her to hear? One she'd likely internalize and apply to herself, much like I had? I was dying it because I saw myself aging, and thought that needed hiding. But wait, why? Shouldn't people over 40 look like, well, people over 40?

I know many women feel more confident or expresses their unique style by coloring their hair, and that's absolutely wonderful. But how many of us color because we think we HAVE to? Because we think it's not possible to be considered attractive if our actual age is visually apparent. How many women of color are convinced naturally curly or kinky hair has to be straightened in order to appear professional? How many women with straight hair believe it needs curling so as not to look boring or fine hair believe that it absolutely requires product, because only fuller hair is good hair? Who decided all of this? Do we have to buy into it?

What if we just love who we are and make choices about ourselves for ourselves,​ expectations of others aside?

I thought about her simple question so much that it led to the beginning sketches for this tee. I also cut off all the hair I had dyed and grew it out. Years later, the tee is about to be released and my hair is long again. It's even more grey, and I look... like I'm about to turn 44. I imagine I do look older. But... I am older. And that's okay. This is how my husband and our daughters know me. This is who they love. The color of my hair doesn't matter to them. It also doesn't matter to me.

To every girl and woman, whatever you choose to do with your own hair - shave it, dye it, let it be - celebrate it, because it's yours and that's what makes it beautiful.

Last month our VOTE, GIRL campaign launched with the intent to encourage women to vote, but more so to educate themselves on and engage in the political process beyond just casting their ballot this November.

Today we continue our efforts by addressing the mass shootings we've suffered in this country at the hands of semiautomatic weaponry. Listed below are a few key politicians currently in the U.S. Senate who stand in the way of very basic gun control legislation. If these senators are either ousted come November, or persuaded to change their vote, we'd have a real chance at progress.Tweet, email or call their offices to let them know you're done with big guns. It's time for change. Be informed, get involved, and of course, VOTE, GIRL!

Now that things have settled down a bit following all the Mother's Day love, I want to pass along something I feel is important regarding all the Mamas. Mamas are not all the same shape or size. We all have our own comfort level regarding the fit and style of our clothing. Some like a fitted tee. Some prefer a more unisex cut. All of us likely find it irritating that a man's large is a man's large, but an average-sized woman needs to up-size when purchasing a "fitted" tee due to the fashion industry's flirtation with body-shaming. Shake the tag, Mamas. It doesn't define anyone. More importantly, we all have this in common: strength and love for our babies. That said, I'm pleased to now offer L, XL and XXL Unisex Fit tees as part of my STRONG MOTHER inventory. They feature the same softness, color, design, and Made in the USA quality. They're just another option, for all the Mamas. Get yours here.

So, did you catch this? A little over two weeks ago, NYU employee, Jason Evans snapped a photo of two infant onesies, side-by-side, in the NYU Bookstore and posted it to facebook. Jason's comment that accompanied the photo was spot-on, "THIS is the problem." His message went viral, showing up all over the nation via social media, on major TV networks and news outlets.

Within a short time of being posted, it reached THIS GIRL'S TEES, because our fans are awesome. I immediately reached out to the bookstore to verify that the photo was current and if so, asked them consider the message it sends to everyone shopping in their store/what it says about NYU, imploring them to do better. I received this response from the Senior Director of the NYU bookstore within the hour, "Hello Ms. Williams. This item is no longer stocked in our store. You are right - we need to do better. Thank you for your message." I wrote him back, thanking him, and noting that, "there are small companies, like mine, committed to creating alternatives. Please seek us out and engage us in wholesale partnerships. You can offer something better and it does make a difference. Too many generations have repeated the same stereotypes over and over because, quite frankly, they’ve become normal – as have the problems they create. I know it seems minor, a shirt or a onesie, but youth apparel and the toys are where it all begins. If gender equality is ever possible, we need to start by affirming that girls are deserving of that equality."

And here's the really great part: the next morning I got a call from their buyer. That's right, New York University’s Bookstore is now the newest wholesale customer of THIS GIRL’S TEES! I started boxing up the first batches of apparel today.

If you're the sort that prefers the official route, here's the press release:

A few days ago, Jason himself reached out to THIS GIRL - and had such kind things to say. This project has led me to some really incredible people. You, all of you, who are rising up, using your voice, saying "no" to the way things have been done for so long, you inspire me. Keep on, keeping on; and THIS GIRL will do the same.

April brings with it two things; rain and taxes. Having just finished reporting for THIS GIRL’S first year of business, I can confirm; when starting a new business, even if you’re doing really well, it will likely be a while before you’re able to put yourself on payroll. Yes, I pretty much work for free, but my boss is nice! Though, the whole not-getting-paid-ness is likely due to that niceness. Alas, I’m more mission-driven than profit-driven and that’s hard for some potential partners to get on board with. Want to see what I’m talking about? Consider the following retail/wholesale pricing models where Mary makes and sells tees and Bob wants to buy larger quantities of tees off her at lower, wholesale pricing and sell them for a profit. (Don’t nod off, now.)

TYPICAL WHOLESALE PRICING MODEL

Mary makes tees. Each tee costs her $6 to make. Mary’s customers will pay $24 for a tee. She makes $18 for every tee she sells. Bob wants to buy Mary’s tees wholesale, paying $12 per tee, which is a 50% discount. Mary makes half of her normal profit ($6 per tee) but sells in wholesale quantities that make the loss a little more tolerable with reorders, etc. Meanwhile, Bob sells the tees for $24 each, making a profit of $12 per tee. Pretty sweet, Bob!

My pricing model is different, and it’s where that darn niceness comes in. Even though the market shows I could get $24 for my tees, because my main goal is to change the tee-landscape, making them accessible to all and not just some, I’m committed to keeping my own retail pricing low so that my tees are affordable for the average person. And here’s what tee-accessibility does to my wholesale pricing:

MY WHOLESALE PRICING MODEL

You can see, I make a little less off of every tee I sell to my regular customers, but more people can afford to buy an awesome tee and we’re changing everyone’s tee landscape, so it’s all good. But often, when a potential wholesale partner sees a 33% rather than a 50% discount, they frown. Then, when I’m not into increasing my own customers’ prices in order to afford to give them their 50% wholesale discount, they walk away. Well, half of them do. The other half know what the market will bear for my tees. They also see that in both of the above scenarios their cost per tee, the price they charge their customers, and their profit per tee is pretty much THE SAME. Most importantly, they respect my mission and allow me to keep my pricing to my own customers just a smidge lower than theirs. People will find both of us. People will buy from both of us. They do, they really do. But if half of my potential wholesale customers don’t find the whole not-paying-myself-ness charming, how can I still grow? The answer is: YOU! Every time you tell someone about THIS GIRL’S TEES, new opportunities present themselves, increasing the chances that business growth will occur, and I get to keep doing what I do. So I didn't just make my business your business here and now via this post: it’s been that way from the start. That’s how important you are! You, in a way, are what really keep THIS GIRL’S TEES accessible for most rather than just some. It feels good, doesn't it?

Once upon a time, there were two girls - our girls! Please enjoy this short little video about what inspires THIS GIRL'S TEES do what we do. PLEASE SHARE the link http://youtu.be/Qz2YLDDYUJY with your networks and help us spread the word! Thanks :)

The message: "GIRLS JUST WANT GLITTER." That's it. That's really all they want. All girls. Just get them some glitter already.

For the record, I don't hate glitter. Or kittens. Or rainbows. And I, myself, have been a bride, I sing, I dance (poorly and thus, only with our kids, with silly, wild abandon) and I enjoy being a wife and mother.

Of course girls can aspire and like any or all those things AND be smart, like math, run fast, etc. But when those things are pitched on clothing made for girls as the ONLY interests or aspirations of ALL girls, and the market is saturated with that sentiment, that's when fashion fails us. The undertone is so... dumb. And that is something YOU are not. You, are so much more.

So absolutely, get your glitter on. Hug those kittens. Be beautiful (because you are). But also, embrace your strengths, support each other, and work hard at being good at something that gives back to the world.

On a recent, warm, Fall afternoon, a talented friend of ours lent us those talents (and his lovely girls) and THIS GIRL'S TEES had our very first photo shoot. Follow us on Instagram to see what comes next! http://instagram.com/thisgirlstees